Rose Buckner will present a Performed Read ing of her solo play\, \;The Reigning Belle of the Bluegrass Region.&n bsp\; Inspired by her grandmother's life\, \;Belle \;is \;the true story of a Kentucky woman who defied social expectations (and risked death threats) to marry a Japanese man in 1903. Artist and Medical Ethicis t Dr. \; Kevin Reid described \;Belle \;as "a theatrical feath erbed to fall on as people of all ages.....negotiate personal and socially relevant existential challenges." Theater Director Luigi Salerni called B uckner a "consummate actress." Chicago Actor and DIrector Kurt Naebig wrot e\, "Belle \;is terrific. It deals with so many issues that are apropo s now. I was captivated throughout and moved by the story."
\n\nBased on actual events\, \;The Reigning Belle of the Bluegrass Regi on \;is the story of a Kentucky aristocrat\, Olivia Buckner\, who defi ed convention to marry a Japanese seminary student\, Yutaka Minakuchi\, in 1903 in Kentucky. \; The play&rsquo\;s title &mdash\; taken from a ne wspaper article written about her at the time&ndash\;is meant to be ironic \, as \; Olivia was the antithesis of a typical &ldquo\;reigning &ldqu o\;belle.&rdquo\; \; Upon hearing of their engagement\, the men in Oli via&rsquo\;s family held a meeting to discuss killing Yutaka to prevent th e marriage. One cousin\, Woodford Buckner\, is said to have opposed the id ea of murdering the young Japanese man\, and Rose is forever grateful to t hat lone cousin for her very existence. The couple fled Kentucky\, but rac ism followed as they traveled the east coast where \;Yutaka lectured o n the Chautauqua \;Circuit. Racial prejudice and financial pressures w ere part of life as they made a family with their half-Japanese son (Rose& rsquo\;s father.) Despite the challenges\, Olivia embraced life with coura ge\, humor\, resilience\, and love.
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